DeForest Buckner

DeForest George Buckner (born March 17, 1994) is an American football defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL).

In January 2012, Buckner committed to the University of Oregon to play college football.

Buckner also played basketball in high school.

He was the Hawaii Gatorade Player of the Year in basketball in 2012.

Buckner played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2012, making two starts.

He finished his freshman season with 29 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, and 1.0 sack.

Buckner finished his third season with 67 tackles, three pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and a career high 12 sacks, the most by a 49ers player since Aldon Smith had 19.5 during the 2012 season.

Buckner was named to his first Pro Bowl as a result.

As a sophomore in 2013, Buckner started eight of 13 games, recording 39 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.

As a junior in 2014, he finished the year with 81 tackles, 13 for a loss, and 4.0 sacks.

Buckner was considered a possible first-round pick in the NFL draft but chose to return for his senior season to graduate and improve his draft stock.

As a senior in 2015, Buckner improved even further, achieving career highs in tackles with 83, tackles for loss with 17, and sacks with 10.5.

Buckner was voted the 2015 Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the Pac-12 coaches, joining Haloti Ngata as the second Oregon Duck to ever win the award.

He was awarded the Morris Trophy for best Pac-12 defensive lineman (voted on by opposing players) and was named a first-team All-American.

He was the second consecutive Oregon defensive end selected in the first round by the 49ers, joining Arik Armstead who was selected 17th overall in 2015.

He played college football at Oregon, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Following his senior season, Buckner officially announced he would enter the 2016 NFL draft.

He was considered one of the top-ranked defensive ends in the draft.

The San Francisco 49ers selected Buckner with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

They went on to draft Solomon Thomas who was another Pac-12 defensive end in 2017.

Buckner made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams, recording one tackle in the 28–0 shutout victory.

During a Week 6 45–16 road loss to the Buffalo Bills, he recorded nine tackles and his first two NFL sacks on quarterback Tyrod Taylor and recovered a fumble forced by former college teammate Arik Armstead on Taylor.

During Week 14 against the New York Jets, Buckner recorded a team-high 11 tackles and sacked Bryce Petty twice in the 23–17 overtime loss.

Buckner finished his rookie season with 73 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a pass deflection in 15 games and starts.

He led all NFL defensive linemen with 1,108 snaps on the season and ranked second with his 73 tackles.

Buckner's six sacks ranked fourth among rookies.

Buckner and the defense played well against the Carolina Panthers in the season opener, holding quarterback Cam Newton to only 171 yards passing and three yards rushing despite losing 23–3.

Three weeks later against the Arizona Cardinals, Buckner recorded four tackles and his first sack of the year on Carson Palmer during the 18–15 overtime road loss.

During Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans, Buckner recorded a season-high nine tackles and half a sack on former college teammate Marcus Mariota in a narrow 25–23 victory.

Buckner finished his second professional season with 61 tackles, five pass deflections, three sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games and starts.

During the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Buckner recorded seven tackles and sacked Kirk Cousins 2.5 times in the 24–16 road loss.

In the next game against the Detroit Lions, he recorded five tackles and sacked Matthew Stafford once in a narrow 30–27 win.

After the first two games of the season, Buckner eclipsed his 2017 sack total.

During a Week 13 43–16 road loss the Seattle Seahawks, Buckner recorded seven tackles and sacked Russell Wilson twice.

Two weeks later against the Seahawks, Buckner recorded a season-high 11 tackles and sacked Wilson twice more during the 26–23 overtime victory.

With the 49ers, Buckner made a Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2019.

With the Colts, he was selected to the first-team All Pro in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2023.

Buckner was born to a Samoan mother and an African American father.

He attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was rated as a four-star recruit.

Buckner also was a teammate of Kaʻimi Fairbairn, currently the kicker of the Houston Texans.